BJP seeks support from Ajit Singh for Shekhawat

New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) In an effort to muster support from smaller parties for Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's candidature for the post of President, the BJP today held discussions with Ajit Singh-led Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

Party Vice-President Mukhatar Abbas Naqvi met Mr Singh at his residence and sought support of his party to second Mr Shekhawat contesting as an Independent. INLD has two MPs and about a dozen MLAs in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Besides Mr Singh, the BJP will also seek support from parties from the North-Eastern states, sources said.

Meanwhile, the NDA is likely to ask the Election Commission to depute independent observers in key states to monitor the voting process so that the legislators and MPs exercise their franchise freely, the sources said.

The states where the NDA would like the deployment of observers include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Karnataka.

Unlike the Rajya Sabha polls, in the Presidential polls, the parties cannot issue any whip and the the Members of Parliament from both the House and the members of the Legislative Assemblies, including Delhi and Puducherry, form the electoral college. They are not bound by the whips issued by the party and will not attract provisions of anti-defection law.

UNI